When on holiday, make sure you keep your passport safe and avoid the stress of ruined travel plans

ONE of the worst things to happen whilst on holiday is to lose or have stolen your passport.Last year, 27,000 Britons reported their passports missing while they were abroad. That figure suggests a worrying level of complacency about a document that is, after all, the ultimate ‘proof’ that you are who say you are.Having your cash, smartphone or other valuables stolen is distressing. But losing your passport can be far more of an ordeal. It’s not just the cost, but your precious holiday time, ruined travel plans and the stress involved that make it such a traumatic experience. And that is to say nothing of what criminals may be getting up to in your name.Targeted passport theft is on the rise, as organised criminals cash in on the easy pickings and lucrative returns of identity trafficking.At Globelink Travel Insurance, we’re there to help when you need it; we’ll help cover the cost of stolen money, passport replacement or extra nights’ overseas accommodation.But bear in mind that a travel insurance policy will not pay the cost of a trip that you’re unable to make because you no longer have a passport or visa, as in this unfortunate case:“While my husband was fetching coffee, a woman approached me to ask something about departures. It never entered my head that it was just a distraction, but when I looked I saw the passports had gone. We reported the theft to airport police and then made extensive inquiries about getting emergency passports, before learning that Burma doesn’t recognise them.“In the end we had no choice but to give up and go home.”It goes without saying, but all insurers expect you to take ‘reasonable care’ of your valuables. Leaving your passport around the hotel room is asking for trouble (and we don’t recommend tucking it under the mattress either!) If you don’t have access to a safety deposit box, keep your passport discreet and close, preferably in a waist belt.And do resist the temptation to go for a splash in the briny with an eye half-cocked on your valuables.We advise people to keep a copy of the photo page of your passport when travelling. No one is immune to passport stings, but if you do get stung, it could help speed up the process of replacing your passport. Stay safe, and enjoy your travels.

For an instant quote and to arrange cover securely online, enabling you to print your policy documents immediately, by visiting www.globelink..co.uk - the leading Travel Insurer for people living in EU countries. Or you can telephone Globelink on 00 44 1353 699082 or their Spanish links line on 966 265 000 or 951 242 434.